SPIRITUAL FASTING IN THE CHURCH

1. Nation of Israel (Under the Old Covenant)

1. Old Testament:

• Mentioned perhaps 74 times

• ". . . fasts in the Old Testament were in response to calamities and were to demonstrate humility and repentance, . . . (Curtis C. Mitchell, The Practice of Fasting in the New Testament, Bibliotheca Sacra, October 1990, page 455. This article is a good source concerning New Testament fasting and was an aid in preparing this outline.)."

2. New Testament Under the Old Covenant

1. Anna (Luke 2:37) -- burdened that the Messiah should come

2. Jesus

1. When He practiced fasting.

• temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-4) an intense spiritual need
• the Day of Atonement (e.g., Leviticus 23:29) This is inferred if He kept this part of the ceremonial law.
• no other record of Jesus fasting
• did not fast during all intense spiritual needs (e.g., facing His death He feasted)

2. When He told His 12 disciples to accomplish non-required fasts--only after He ascended (Matthew 9:15; Mark 2:18-20; Luke 5:33-35)

3. What He taught about fasting

1. Fasting was a necessary component when His 12 disciples exorcized certain kings of demons (Matthew 17:21; Mark 9:29).

2. Correction of excesses in fasting

• It should not be done in public as a display of pseudo-piety (Matthew 6:16-18; Luke 18:12).
• Confession of sins is better than fasting (Luke 18:12-14).

 

2. The Church (Under the New Covenant)

1. Acts

• 9:8-11 -- Fasting Following Saul's Conversion? Maybe he was just in shock and couldn't eat. It is not certain that this instance deals with spiritual fasting.
• 13:1-3 -- Fasting Associated with the Selection of the First Missionaries. Those gifted as teachers in the church were burdened for the needs of the world. So they gathered for special prayer with fasting.
• 14:23 -- Fasting at the Selection of Elders. The missionaries were burdened by the danger of appointing unqualified leaders.

2. Rest of the New Testament -- Never Mentions Fasting

 

3. Conclusion

Fasting has a place in the church in response to dangers, trials, heartaches, or sorrows. However, the example of Scripture is that it is not required of the Church and that it is not to be practiced to the degree it was under the Old Covenant. There is no teaching for the Church that fasting should be practiced for health reasons . . . although there may be health reason for practicing fasting (e.g., reasonable weight reduction).

© 2002-2003, Ken Bowles -- March 13, 2003, Edition